pi_pi
regular
Reged: 07/04/2008
Posts: 19
Loc: Cardiff
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I drove the 6 hour round trip to wish you all toi toi toi, and take some pics. Here are a few from the thousands taken by everyone on land and the spectator boat (cheers Colin!).
At rest:
And lastly, Jester stocking up for the voyage:
Junks:
MO:
Starting line (ish):
Finally (at least from me!), the real jester:
Great day; looking forward to being part of it next time, cheers 
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was Coro
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graham
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6062
Loc: South Wales
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Great Pictures. Some of the boats look to be heavilly modified while others look fairly bog standard.
Good that they have some gentle weather for the start but they will probably be wishing they had more breeze to get them clear of the channel and out where they can relax a bit more.
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http://banjocoronado25.blogspot.com/
All Hardwood used in Banjos restoration comes from sustainable sources. Usually the Boat Club Skip :-)
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Continuous_Moon
new user
Reged: 31/05/2008
Posts: 3
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Great pics. Some interesting boats.
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pi_pi
regular
Reged: 07/04/2008
Posts: 19
Loc: Cardiff
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There was a great selection of boats, which was evidence of each skipper's approach to seamanship, single-handed sailing, and hard-earned experience. For example, Mingming (Roger Taylor's voyager) is heavily modified, considered by her skipper to be unsinkable (and I don't doubt it!). FASON, a Russian craft, was built by her skipper (who had sailed her non-stop for 21 days to reach Plymouth in time!). I personally found it interesting to see the different approaches to viewing positions (domes, raised cabins, pillbox lookouts, and standard spray hoods), and the selection of windvanes.
The most outstanding aspect, however, were the skippers themselves - a delightfully motley crew all bound by this great adventure ahead of them (and very lucky indeed to have support from family and friends, many of whom I met, and who were no doubt more nervous than the skippers themselves!).
PBO will be running a feature on it in the near future.
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CleeWizard
regular
Reged: 15/10/2001
Posts: 166
Loc: Devon
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Great pics Coro - I was hoping to be afloat to send them off but ended up working so your pics are just what I need to see how it went. Best of luck to all the entrants.
Steve
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"Why is the rum always gone"?
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jonjo
regular
Reged: 27/02/2002
Posts: 2202
Loc: Cambridgeshire, UK
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I never considered my old Trident 24 to be a potential transatlantic yacht. Hope he makes it and proves me wrong.
[Edit]Just been Googling Jester 2008 and realise it is the Azores this year, anyhow still an impressive voyage for a sub 25' yacht.
Edited by jonjo (01/06/2008 15:59)
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moondancer
regular
Reged: 08/12/2001
Posts: 999
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As an ex sonata owner, pretty impressed that someone is doing it in one! Very brave. Also see someone is doing it in a Virgo Voyager. Just as well there is no time limit.
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Jake_K
PBO features editor
Reged: 20/07/2001
Posts: 186
Loc: Poole, Dorset UK
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Hi Coro
Great pix - thanks for sharing them. Pity the weather was bit flat, but the light winds made the manoevuring at the start line less fraught!
Yes, a superb collection of boats, some heavily modified, others still pretty basic, but all the skippers had taken precautions ( if you know what I mean.) Rich harvest of material for PBO, and we've also shot enough footage for a closely edited 15-min film which I think you'll find entertaining. Jester has no chortage of characters!
The Russian boat ( actually one of two Russians present) belongs to Alexey Fedoruk, and that guy could write a book. The hull has been built up from an old wooden Dragon, and such was the shortage of chandlery that he turned out brass screws and piston hanks on a lathe in a (missile) factory where he was working!
He had sailed non-stop from St Petersburg (21 days) to get to the start, and was chuffed to bits to be living the dream of his heroes Blondie Halsar and Sir Francis Chichester.
Moondancer - you would have been impressed by Coronet! Good to see a Hunter Sonata with more gear ( including radar and a towed aquagen) than most 40ft yachts! Each system was triple backed up ( eg - even radar was backed up by AIS and a radar detector)
A humble little Trident 24 ( bought for £2,500) was also at the start. The owner - who was fairly new to cruising - had wisely spent his limited budget on electronics and new sails rather than paint for the decks.
A total of 40 boats started, only a couple a tad over 30ft (and along by invitiation.)
The cameraderie, joshing, mutual help and adoption of Alexey was terrific ( they renamed the rather austere 'RU 808' the 'Rusky Special' and he loves it!)
Should be a great trip for them all. Next one, of course, is in 2010 to Rhode Island. Hope I can get Pod finished by then.
Look out for a full report in PBO soon (hopefully with the full 'results' - and for our humble documentary film!)
Jake K
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swampthing
regular
Reged: 01/03/2008
Posts: 100
Loc: Plymouth UK
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Is there anywhere I can get daily updates on the race? Thanks
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I must go down to the sea again, the lonely sea and sky.
I left my vest and pants there, I wonder if theyre dry?
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Boomshanka
regular
Reged: 18/08/2007
Posts: 128
Loc: Southampton
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I'd also like to track progress... fascinating event... maybe one day. Anyway, the Jester website doesn't seem to give updates as far as I can see( HERE )
The Ocean Race Track site HERE (click on a boat name) gives a history of JC2006.
Mike Winter on 'Jacinta' looks like he's running a blog on JC2008 HERE
There's a Jester Yahoo discussion group, but you need to be a participating member to get in (fair enough) HERE
That's all I know 
Good luck to all participants, I'd love to do something similar one day (boatless at the moment though  ).
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